Taco Bell, the leading Tex-Mex fast food chain, is opening its first "cantina-style" restaurant in Florida in Gainesville.

The restaurant will open in January at 1404 W. University Ave., which is across the street from the University of Florida campus, said Kayla Lampp, restaurant general manager.

The slim number of Taco Bell Cantinas around the country serve beer, wine, sangria and Twisted Freezes, frozen drinks with the option to add vodka, rum or tequila.

But Lampp said the franchise group that owns the restaurant, Florida Bells, wanted to wait on the alcoholic beverage element to limit hiccups while opening.

“When you add the alcohol, you have to worry about a liquor license and having someone old enough to serve it,” she said.

Lampp said the restaurant plans to start selling alcohol before the end of the 2018.

Taco Bell, known for serving its Crunch Wrap Supremes, nachos and tacos to an after-midnight crowd, ditches its drive-thrus with its cantina locations and focuses on a sit-down dining experience.

Lampp said the fancy Taco Bell will have digital signage, a modern design, an open kitchen, large televisions, hand-picked music, and an open patio for its customers to enjoy. She said the food options will stay about the same as regular Taco Bells.

“It will be a good, fun experience,” she said.

According to Food & Wine, Taco Bell announced in September its plans to open between 300 and 350 cantina-style locations, rolling out most of them in large cities like New York, Detroit, Boston and Pittsburgh.

The first Taco Bell Cantina opened in Chicago in 2015.